MADERA, Calif. — Matt Erickson outlasted multiple challenges from 12-year-old Vito Cancilla to earn his second Madera Pro Late Model Series powered by Mission Foods feature win of the season on Saturday night at Madera Speedway.
The victory came during the penultimate eighth round of the championship, with Erickson running second in the standings.
His night opened in perfect fashion with fast-time in qualifying on the one-third mile speedway followed by drawing the pole in the redraw.
“After that opening day where we grenade’d (a motor) with a dominant car, this is a lot better,” Erickson said. “Without the help of Eric Nascimento we wouldn’t have got a motor. The 12-year-old over here gave me a run for my money.”
Erickson fired of from the pole for the 80-lap contest with Cancilla taking over third on lap 12. Incoming points leader and defending champion Tyler Herzog battled throughout the opening 50-lap segment with Bubba Nascimento for fifth. Will Martyn spun on lap 20 to bring out a caution. On the restart, Cooper tried to drive outside of Erickson but the paid made slight contact and Erickson held the position.
Cancilla then drove underneath Cooper to nab second place. An additional spin for Martyn on lap 23 allowed Cancilla to restart outside Erickson. Cancilla tried high and low multiple times but was unable to pass Erickson. Erickson led Cancilla, Cooper, rookie Joey Kennealy and Herzog at the lap 50 break for adjustments. Trevor Schlundt wrapped up the club Late Model division championship at the conclusion of lap 50 as well in the combined race, winning the title on his mom’s birthday.
The second segment saw Nathan Quella and Kenna Mitchell collide in turns one and two. The race stayed green but Mitchell fell to the back of the field. Quella then spun in turn two on lap 54, getting hit hard in the nose by Shaun Reynolds. 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model winner Cam Carraway and Schlundt also suffered race ending damage.
On the restart, Cancilla continued to jockey with Erickson. A caution flew on lap 70 for Mitchell spinning after side-by-side contact with Glen Cook. Cancilla threw his No. V5 for Nascimento Motorsports inside of Erickson on multiple occasions over the final ten laps to no avail. Erickson won by a nose over Cancilla with Cooper finishing third. Kennealy and Herzog rounded out the top five.
Tristan Pena scored his second consecutive 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series 70-lap feature and third of the season after winning a side-by-side battle with points leader Jace Hale.
13-year-old Taylor Mayhew returned to Madera Speedway and won his first Madera Legends feature in a 30-lap contest. Joseph Holliday had a successful debut in the new Pro Sportsman division, winning qualifying, his heat race, and the main event. 2023 INEX Bandolero champion Kaine Bettancourt has virtually locked up the 2024 title after winning the 15-lap event.